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MARINE | Turkish Straits In association with Cavus & Coskunsu
Beware engine problems in the Turkish Straits Caglar Coskunsu, Partner, Cavus & Coskunsu Law Firm, warns masters and owners to take care when running into engine problems in the Turkish Straits. Immediate salvage assistance is not always the right answer
The Turkish Straits is a unique system of waterways consisting of Istanbul and the Çanakkale Straits and the Marmara Sea connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The most challenging parts of the Turkish Straits for navigation are the Bosporus and the Dardanelles where there are many sharp turns requiring a change of course at large angles and the domestic sea traffic is busy. In addition, the currents sometimes make the passage of the Dardanelles and the Bosporus more difficult, particularly when the weather conditions increase the currents’ speed and cause variations in the directions of the currents in some risky parts of Bosporus and Dardanelles. A state-owned organization, Kiyi Eminiyeti Genel Mudurlugu (The Directorate General of Coastal Safety), has monopoly rights for salvage services in the Turkish Straits including Izmit Bay and also some areas in close proximity to the entrances of both the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. The Directorate is, however, not just a salvage company but The Marine Insurer | March 2022
also a large company operating pilotage and vessel traffic services (VTS) in the Turkish Straits with extensive resources. This includes many tugs stationed in the Turkish Straits, stations, personnel, different types of boats, land vehicles and equipment in addition to the salvage services, they operate.
PROS AND CONS
The existence of a state-owned salvage company in a narrow channel with busy traffic has both its pros and cons. The advantage for the ship masters, owners and insurers is that the mobilization time of the tugs owned by the Directorate is extremely good for salvage service as there are many escort tugs operating continuously. Tugs are also stationed in both the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. In one recent case, a tug intervened with a vessel that was exposed to imminent danger in less than 10 minutes. This is a better attendance time than a normal fire and rescue service in the city of Istanbul in rush hour of traffic.
